Hand swim fin



April 25, 1961 l L, wOLsHlN 2,980,925

HAND SWIM FIN Filed Sept. 5, 1958 INVENTOR. Lows WoLsHiN BYQAMMCQ@ A 7- Tak/vs Y vUnited States Patent Oiiiee 2,980,925 Patented Apr. 25, 1961 HAND SWllVI FIN L'ouis Wolshin, 68'4 SE. 9th Ave., Hialeah, Fla., assignor of fifty percent to Stanley Axelrod, Miami Beach, Fla.

Filed Sept. '5, 1958, Ser. No. 759,205

1 Claim. (Cl. 9 308) This invention relates to an aid to: swimming, for use upon the hands of the swimmer and whereby to materially aid in propelling the swimmer over and above his ability to propel himself lby the hands only.

The device contemplates a molded rubber or plastic lin that is quickly Iattachable to the hands of the operator by a wrist encircling band and with the device comprising a tubular receptacle for the thumb of the operator, an extended web portion that extends from the thumbl to 'a point adjacent the first and second lingers of the operator and with the web including a channeled rib that is adapted to be engaged upon opposite sides by the first and second finger, whereby to extend the web and additionally not hold the device inoperative position with respect to the hand.

The invention further contemplates a device as above noted wherein the Irib is channeled upon opposite sides and provided with an overlying strip and whereby the first and second linger may be clamped against the rib and with the overlying strip preventing disengagement of the strip and the adjacent web during a swimming action,

Novel features of construction and operation of the device will be more clearly apparent during the course of the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings wherein has been illustrated a preferred form of the device and wherein like characters ,l of reference are employed to denote like parts throughout the several figures.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a hand swim lin constructed in accordance with the invention,

Figure 2 is a plan View showing the device in use upon the hand of an operator and,

Figure 3 is a section taken substantially on line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Referring specifically to the drawings, t-he numeral 5 designates a swim fin, that is preferably molded from plastic or rubber or other suitable flexible or moldable materials. The device 5 embodies a hollow thumb receptacle 6, having a thumb receiving open end 7. Molded integrally with the receptacle 6, is a generally V-shaped web 8, having an intermediate and preferably upstanding reinforcing rib 9 and whereby to impart added rigidity to the web 8. The web 8 terminates in an upstanding generally T-shaped rib 10, having a head portion 11 and with its opposite side walls being inwardly curved, as at 12. The web 8 extends outwardly and terminates in a lap 13. The curvature of the walls 12 correspond generally to the transverse curvature of the rst and second fingers respectively of the operator of the device.

The receptacle 6 may also be provided Iwith an additional, oppositely extending web 14, that projects laterally of the receptacle 6 as an additional aid in swimming. The web 14 is also preferably molded integrally with the receptacle and of course this web 14 may be omitted if desired. Molded or otherwise connected adjacent the open end 7 of the receptacle 6 is a resilient band 15 for engagement over the wrist of the operator and whereby to effectively hold the device in position upon the hand against displacement during the swimming action. The

band 15 may be formed of rubber or a composition of materials capable of resisting deterioration by the water and of course the band 15 may have its free ends stapled or riveted through the open end of the receptacle 6.

It will be apparent that the device will be made for both the right and left hands of the operator and it is contemplated, that they shall be manufactured and sold in pairs accordingly.

In the use of the device, the operator engages the thumb into the receptacle 6 for the full depth, pulling it snugly into the joint of the hand between the thumb and the first finger. The band 15 has been engaged over the hand to snugly engage around the wrist. The operator then engages the rib 10 between the first and second ngers and, by bringing the fingers together, they engage within the grooves 12 and beneath the top 11 thus, securely holding the web 8 in an extended position, such positioning of the fingers being normal in a swimming action. The first and second lingers, with the thumb thus hold the device extended and provides a very desirable and most effective aid to the propulsion of the user in the water.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that a very novel form `of swim lin has been provided that may be formed or manufactured at a relatively low cost, is quickly and easily engaged with the hand of the operator and forms a most desirable means to aid the swimmer in yattaining a maximum swimming speed in the water. The device readily lends itself for manufacture from various materials and, while preferably molded as an integral structure, may obviously be fabricated if found desirable. The device is strong, durable and most effective for the purposes indicated.

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the precise construction shown, but that changes are contemplated as readily fall within the spirit of the invention as shall be determined by the scope of the sub'- jioined claim.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

A hand swim lin of the character described that is integrally formed from rubber or similar flexible m-aterial, comprising a fan-shaped web portion having an intermediate slightly upstanding reinforcing rib, a hollow thumb `receiving receptacle carried by the web and spaced slightly inwardly from `one free edge of the web, the receptacle being closed at its outer end, a relatively stiff radial rib carried by the web portion adjacent the oppoe site edge of the web and extending for the major length of the web, the last named rib beingT-shaped in cross section having an upstanding wall and a relatively wide head, the wall upon opposite sides being arcuately formed and increasing in thickness forwardly whereby to engage between the first and second lingers of the user, the wall at its inner end being relatively thin to permit the engagement of the ribI up to the joint between the first and second ngers and a resilient band connected to the web portion adjacent the receptacle for engagement about the wrist of the user for retaining the 1in upon the hand, the thumb and the rst and second fingers when moved apart serving to extend the web.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,275,005 Eckman Aug. 6, 1918 2,389,196 Harmon Nov. 20, 1945 2,726,410 Adamopoulos Dec. 13, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS 5,769 Great Britain 1892 23,034 Austria Feb. 10, 1906 

